Page 50 of My Wicked Earl
Alex bestowed a warm smile on the slightly bewildered Lady Cottingham who was too new to society to know of the former Lady Cambourne’s venomous personality.
“I do hope, Lady Cottingham, that the chambers I selected for you and your family meet with your approval?” Turning slightly, she addressed Lady Helen. “I picked yours, Lady Helen, especially because of your fondness for birds. Your room overlooks a particularly large maple tree. A pair of robins have taken up residence in the tree and formed a nest full of lovely blue eggs. I believe they are nearly ready to hatch. I thought perhaps you would enjoy watching them during your stay.”
Lady Helen’s lips curled in a tolerant smile. “Robins are really rathercommon, Lady Cambourne. Why—”
“Thank you.” Lady Cottingham took hold of her daughter’s hand, squeezing tightly in an effort to keep her daughter from offending their hosts. “You are most considerate, Lady Cambourne. I’m sure my daughter will enjoy the view very much. May I also say again, how pleased we are to visit Gray Covington.”
“My husband’s grandmother would like to renew your acquaintance.” Alex tilted her head to the seat where the Dowager now held court. “She has sent me over to collect you.”
Lady Cottingham swallowed nervously. “Of course. I must thank Lady Cambourne for her kind invitation.”
Two men stood on either side of The Dowager paying their respects. Colin recognized the large form of Lord Anthony Welles immediately, for he’d known him at Eton. The other gentleman Colin assumed to be Carstairs. The dolt.
“Please,” Alex gestured for Lady Cottingham to precede her, and took the woman’s arm when she didn’t budge. “I would also take the opportunity to introduce you to Lord Anthony Welles and Lord Thomas Carstairs. You may be acquainted with Lord Carstairs’s younger sister, Lady Gwendolyn? She’s just made her debut.”
“I’ve met Lady Gwendolyn.” Lady Helen replied before her mother could answer. “I find her—”
“Delightful.” Lady Cottingham shot her daughter a firm look.
Alex guided Lady Cottingham and Lady Helen in the direction of the Dowager who sat watching their approach with an assessing gleam in her eye.
Colin leaned towards Cam. “I must remember to thank Alex for her timely rescue from Lady Helen and her mother. I was about to be treated to a very impassioned speech on the ruby throated thrush. Whatever the bloody hell that is.”
A servant paused before Cam holding a silver tray holding two glasses of wine.
Taking one of the stemmed glasses, Colin took a sip and frowned. “You really should serve whiskey if I’m going to be forced to make conversation on birds.”
“She’s wealthy. Horribly so. Despite her eccentric hobby.”
“Obsession.” Colin corrected him.
Cam shrugged. “I’ve no wish for you to be condemned to a life ofobsessivebirdwatching. You have other options.”
“Borrowing so heavily from my friends is not one of them,” Colin reminded him.
Cam sighed in resignation and lifted his chin towards the group surrounding the Dowager.
“You remember Welles, don’t you?”
“I do. I understand that he now uses his aptitude with numbers and business acumen on Elysium.”
Cam lifted his glass. “Well, he had to make a living somehow didn’t he, after refusing to marry the girl his father chose for him. Now the Duke of Baunton, surrounded by his five daughters, still waits for his heir to marry.”
“The son of a duke,” Colin mused, “running a club that caters to the most decadent tastes of theton. I’m told there are private rooms where one can indulge and explore any pleasure one wishes.”
“Welles is a silent partner. It is his half-brother who manages Elysium.”
“And Carstairs? I have difficulty believing he and Welles are friends. I’m told my horse possesses more personality than Carstairs.”
“No, definitely not friends. I believe there is property that Welles wishes to purchase from Carstairs and wanted to view it himself rather than send his solicitor. Grandmother invited them to stay for the house party since they meant to stop for the night anyway.”
“Perhaps your grandmother,” Colin bit out, hating the jealous note in his tone, “means for Welles or Carstairs to be potential suitors for Miranda.”
Laughter burst from Cam’s lips. “I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. “Lord Hamill and Ridley are bad enough without adding Carstairs to the mix.”
Colin ignored the fact that Cam made no mention of Welles.
Behind the chair in which the Dowager sat, a gentleman entered the room, pausing at the doorway as if waiting to be noticed, frowning slightly when he seemed to garner no attention as he made his way forward.
